Summary of Latest Federal Income Tax Data

The Internal Revenue Service has recently released new data on individual income taxes for calendar year 2012, showing the number of taxpayers, adjusted gross income, and income tax shares by income percentiles.[1]

The data demonstrates that the U.S. individual income tax continues to be very progressive, borne mainly by the highest income earners.

In 2012, 136.1 million taxpayers reported earning $9.04 trillion in adjusted gross income and paid $1.1 trillion in income taxes.

All income groups increased their income and taxes paid over the previous year.

The top 1 percent of taxpayers earned their largest share of income since 2007 at 21.9 percent of total AGI and paid their largest share of the income tax burden since the same year at 38.1 percent of total income taxes.

In 2012, the top 50 percent of all taxpayers (68 million filers) paid 97.2 percent of all income taxes while the bottom 50 percent paid the remaining 2.8 percent.

The top 1 percent (1.3 million filers) paid a greater share of income taxes (38.1 percent) than the bottom 90 percent (122.4 million filers) combined (29.8 percent).

The top 1 percent of taxpayers paid a higher effective income tax rate than any other group at 22.8 percent, which is nearly 7 times higher than taxpayers in the bottom 50 percent (3.28 percent).

Taxpayers Reported $9.04 Trillion in Adjusted Gross Income and Paid $1.19 Trillion in Income Taxes in 2012

Taxpayers reported $9.04 trillion in adjusted gross income (AGI) on 136.1 million tax returns in 2012. This represents $725 billion in additional income over 2011 on 500,000 fewer tax returns. While the majority of the income gain went to the top 5 percent of taxpayers (those making $175,817 or more), every income group experienced an increase in income in 2012. Due to the increase in incomes, taxes paid increased by $142 billion to $1.185 trillion in 2012. Taxes paid increased for all income groups.

The share of income earned by the top 1 percent increased to 21.9 percent of total AGI, the highest level since the peak year of 2007 (22.9 percent of total AGI). The share of the income tax burden for the top 1 percent increased to 38.1 percent from 35.1 percent in 2011, also the highest level since the peak in 2007 (39.8 percent).

Table 1. Summary of Federal Income Tax Data, 2012

Number of Returns*

AGI ($ millions)

Income Taxes Paid ($ millions)

Group's Share of Total AGI (IRS)

Group's Share of Income Taxes

Income Split Point

Average Tax Rate

All Taxpayers

136,080,353

9,041,744

1,184,978

100.0%

100.0%

Top 1%

1,360,804

1,976,738

451,328

21.9%

38.1%

> $434,682

22.8%

1-5%

5,443,214

1,354,206

247,215

15.0%

20.9%

18.3%

Top 5%

6,804,018

3,330,944

698,543

36.8%

58.9%

> $175,817

21.0%

5-10%

6,804,017

996,955

132,902

11.0%

11.2%

13.3%

Top 10%

13,608,035

4,327,899

831,445

47.9%

70.2%

> $125,195

19.2%

10-25%

20,412,053

1,933,778

192,601

21.4%

16.3%

10.0%

Top 25%

34,020,088

6,261,677

1,024,046

69.3%

86.4%

> $73,354

16.4%

25-50%

34,020,089

1,776,123

128,017

19.6%

10.8%

7.2%

Top 50%

68,040,177

8,037,800

1,152,063

88.9%

97.2%

> $36,055

14.3%

Bottom 50%

68,040,177

1,003,944

32,915

11.1%

2.8%

< $36,055

3.3%

*Does not include dependent filers.

Top 50 Percent of All Taxpayers Paid 97.2 Percent of All Federal Income Taxes; Top 1 Percent Paid 38.1 Percent; and Bottom 90 Percent Paid 29.7 Percent of All Federal Income Taxes

Figure 1 shows the distribution of AGI and income taxes paid by income percentiles in 2012. In 2012, the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers (those with AGIs below $36,055) earned 11.1 percent of total AGI. This group of taxpayers paid approximately $33 billion in taxes, or 2.8 percent of all income taxes in 2012.

In contrast, the top 1 percent of all taxpayers (taxpayers with AGIs of $434,682 and above), earned 21.9 percent of all AGI in 2012, but paid 38.1 percent of all federal income taxes.

Combined, the top 1 percent of taxpayers (those with AGIs above $434,682) accounted for more income taxes paid than the bottom 90 percent (those with AGIs below $125,195) combined. In 2012, the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid $451 billion in income taxes, or 38.1 percent of all income taxes while the bottom 90 percent paid $353 billion in income taxes, or 29.8 percent of all income taxes paid.

The Top 1 Percent’s Effective Tax Rate Is Nearly Seven Times Higher than the Bottom 50 percent’s

The 2012 IRS data shows that taxpayers with higher incomes pay much higher effective income tax rates than lower-income taxpayers.

The bottom 50 percent of taxpayers (taxpayers with AGIs under $36,055) faced an average effective income tax rate of 3.3 percent. As taxpayer AGI increases, the IRS data shows that average income tax rates rise. For example, taxpayers with AGIs between the 10th and 5th percentile ($125,195 and $175,817) pay an average effective rate of 13.3 percent—four times the rate paid by those in the bottom 50 percent.

The top 1 percent of taxpayers (AGI of $434,682 and higher) paid the highest effective income tax rate at 22.8 percent, 6.9 times the rate faced by the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers. The top 1 percent’s average effective tax rate for 2012 of 22.8 percent was slightly lower than that of 2011 (23.5 percent).

Taxpayers at the very top of the income distribution, the top 0.1 percent, which includes taxpayers with incomes over $2.2 million, actually paid a slightly lower income tax rate than the top 1 percent (21.7 percent versus 22.8 percent). This is due to the fact that very high income taxpayers are more likely to report a greater share of their income as taxable capital gains income. This leads to a slightly lower effective tax rate because capital gains and dividends income faces a lower top income tax rate (23.8 percent) than wage and business income (39.6 percent). It is important to note, however, that capital gains taxes at the individual level are the second layer of tax after the corporate income tax (which is 35 percent).

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

106,155

1,062

5,308

5,308

10,615

15,923

26,539

26,539

53,077

53,077

1988

108,873

1,089

5,444

5,444

10,887

16,331

27,218

27,218

54,436

54,436

1989

111,313

1,113

5,566

5,566

11,131

16,697

27,828

27,828

55,656

55,656

1990

112,812

1,128

5,641

5,641

11,281

16,922

28,203

28,203

56,406

56,406

1991

113,804

1,138

5,690

5,690

11,380

17,071

28,451

28,451

56,902

56,902

1992

112,653

1,127

5,633

5,633

11,265

16,898

28,163

28,163

56,326

56,326

1993

113,681

1,137

5,684

5,684

11,368

17,052

28,420

28,420

56,841

56,841

1994

114,990

1,150

5,749

5,749

11,499

17,248

28,747

28,747

57,495

57,495

1995

117,274

1,173

5,864

5,864

11,727

17,591

29,319

29,319

58,637

58,637

1996

119,442

1,194

5,972

5,972

11,944

17,916

29,860

29,860

59,721

59,721

1997

121,503

1,215

6,075

6,075

12,150

18,225

30,376

30,376

60,752

60,752

1998

123,776

1,238

6,189

6,189

12,378

18,566

30,944

30,944

61,888

61,888

1999

126,009

1,260

6,300

6,300

12,601

18,901

31,502

31,502

63,004

63,004

2000

128,227

1,282

6,411

6,411

12,823

19,234

32,057

32,057

64,114

64,114

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

119,371

119

1,194

5,969

5,969

11,937

17,906

29,843

29,843

59,685

59,685

2002

119,851

120

1,199

5,993

5,993

11,985

17,978

29,963

29,963

59,925

59,925

2003

120,759

121

1,208

6,038

6,038

12,076

18,114

30,190

30,190

60,379

60,379

2004

122,510

123

1,225

6,125

6,125

12,251

18,376

30,627

30,627

61,255

61,255

2005

124,673

125

1,247

6,234

6,234

12,467

18,701

31,168

31,168

62,337

62,337

2006

128,441

128

1,284

6,422

6,422

12,844

19,266

32,110

32,110

64,221

64,221

2007

132,655

133

1,327

6,633

6,633

13,265

19,898

33,164

33,164

66,327

66,327

2008

132,892

133

1,329

6,645

6,645

13,289

19,934

33,223

33,223

66,446

66,446

2009

132,620

133

1,326

6,631

6,631

13,262

19,893

33,155

33,155

66,310

66,310

2010

135,033

135

1,350

6,752

6,752

13,503

20,255

33,758

33,758

67,517

67,517

2011

136,586

137

1,366

6,829

6,829

13,659

20,488

34,146

34,146

68,293

68,293

2012

136,080

136

1,361

6,804

6,804

13,608

20,412

34,020

34,020

68,040

68,040

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Table 3. Adjusted Gross Income of Taxpayers in Various Income Brackets, 1980–2012 ($Billions)

Year

Total

Top 0.1%

Top 1%

Top 5%

Between 5% & 10%

Top 10%

Between 10% & 25%

Top 25%

Between 25% & 50%

Top 50%

Bottom 50%

1980

$1,627

$138

$342

$181

$523

$400

$922

$417

$1,339

$288

1981

$1,791

$149

$372

$201

$573

$442

$1,015

$458

$1,473

$318

1982

$1,876

$167

$398

$207

$605

$460

$1,065

$478

$1,544

$332

1983

$1,970

$183

$428

$217

$646

$481

$1,127

$498

$1,625

$344

1984

$2,173

$210

$482

$240

$723

$528

$1,251

$543

$1,794

$379

1985

$2,344

$235

$531

$260

$791

$567

$1,359

$580

$1,939

$405

1986

$2,524

$285

$608

$278

$887

$604

$1,490

$613

$2,104

$421

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

$2,814

$347

$722

$316

$1,038

$671

$1,709

$664

$2,374

$440

1988

$3,124

$474

$891

$342

$1,233

$718

$1,951

$707

$2,658

$466

1989

$3,299

$468

$918

$368

$1,287

$768

$2,054

$751

$2,805

$494

1990

$3,451

$483

$953

$385

$1,338

$806

$2,144

$788

$2,933

$519

1991

$3,516

$457

$943

$400

$1,343

$832

$2,175

$809

$2,984

$532

1992

$3,681

$524

$1,031

$413

$1,444

$856

$2,299

$832

$3,131

$549

1993

$3,776

$521

$1,048

$426

$1,474

$883

$2,358

$854

$3,212

$563

1994

$3,961

$547

$1,103

$449

$1,552

$929

$2,481

$890

$3,371

$590

1995

$4,245

$620

$1,223

$482

$1,705

$985

$2,690

$938

$3,628

$617

1996

$4,591

$737

$1,394

$515

$1,909

$1,043

$2,953

$992

$3,944

$646

1997

$5,023

$873

$1,597

$554

$2,151

$1,116

$3,268

$1,060

$4,328

$695

1998

$5,469

$1,010

$1,797

$597

$2,394

$1,196

$3,590

$1,132

$4,721

$748

1999

$5,909

$1,153

$2,012

$641

$2,653

$1,274

$3,927

$1,199

$5,126

$783

2000

$6,424

$1,337

$2,267

$688

$2,955

$1,358

$4,314

$1,276

$5,590

$834

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

$6,116

$492

$1,065

$1,934

$666

$2,600

$1,334

$3,933

$1,302

$5,235

$881

2002

$5,982

$421

$960

$1,812

$660

$2,472

$1,339

$3,812

$1,303

$5,115

$867

2003

$6,157

$466

$1,030

$1,908

$679

$2,587

$1,375

$3,962

$1,325

$5,287

$870

2004

$6,735

$615

$1,279

$2,243

$725

$2,968

$1,455

$4,423

$1,403

$5,826

$908

2005

$7,366

$784

$1,561

$2,623

$778

$3,401

$1,540

$4,940

$1,473

$6,413

$953

2006

$7,970

$895

$1,761

$2,918

$841

$3,760

$1,652

$5,412

$1,568

$6,980

$990

2007

$8,622

$1,030

$1,971

$3,223

$905

$4,128

$1,770

$5,898

$1,673

$7,571

$1,051

2008

$8,206

$826

$1,657

$2,868

$905

$3,773

$1,782

$5,555

$1,673

$7,228

$978

2009

$7,579

$602

$1,305

$2,439

$878

$3,317

$1,740

$5,058

$1,620

$6,678

$900

2010

$8,040

$743

$1,517

$2,716

$915

$3,631

$1,800

$5,431

$1,665

$7,096

$944

2011

$8,317

$737

$1,556

$2,819

$956

$3,775

$1,866

$5,641

$1,716

$7,357

$961

2012

$9,042

$1,017

$1,977

$3,331

$997

$4,328

$1,934

$6,262

$1,776

$8,038

$1,004

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Table 4. Total Income Tax after Credits, 1980–2012 ($Billions)

Year

Total

Top 0.1%

Top 1%

Top 5%

Between 5% & 10%

Top 10%

Between 10% & 25%

Top 25%

Between 25% & 50%

Top 50%

Bottom 50%

1980

$249

$47

$92

$31

$123

$59

$182

$50

$232

$18

1981

$282

$50

$99

$36

$135

$69

$204

$57

$261

$21

1982

$276

$53

$100

$34

$134

$66

$200

$56

$256

$20

1983

$272

$55

$101

$34

$135

$64

$199

$54

$252

$19

1984

$297

$63

$113

$37

$150

$68

$219

$57

$276

$22

1985

$322

$70

$125

$41

$166

$73

$238

$60

$299

$23

1986

$367

$94

$156

$44

$201

$78

$279

$64

$343

$24

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

$369

$92

$160

$46

$205

$79

$284

$63

$347

$22

1988

$413

$114

$188

$48

$236

$85

$321

$68

$389

$24

1989

$433

$109

$190

$51

$241

$93

$334

$73

$408

$25

1990

$447

$112

$195

$52

$248

$97

$344

$77

$421

$26

1991

$448

$111

$194

$56

$250

$96

$347

$77

$424

$25

1992

$476

$131

$218

$58

$276

$97

$374

$78

$452

$24

1993

$503

$146

$238

$60

$298

$101

$399

$80

$479

$24

1994

$535

$154

$254

$64

$318

$108

$425

$84

$509

$25

1995

$588

$178

$288

$70

$357

$115

$473

$88

$561

$27

1996

$658

$213

$335

$76

$411

$124

$535

$95

$630

$28

1997

$727

$241

$377

$82

$460

$134

$594

$102

$696

$31

1998

$788

$274

$425

$88

$513

$139

$652

$103

$755

$33

1999

$877

$317

$486

$97

$583

$150

$733

$109

$842

$35

2000

$981

$367

$554

$106

$660

$164

$824

$118

$942

$38

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

$885

$139

$294

$462

$101

$564

$158

$722

$120

$842

$43

2002

$794

$120

$263

$420

$93

$513

$143

$657

$104

$761

$33

2003

$746

$115

$251

$399

$85

$484

$133

$617

$98

$715

$30

2004

$829

$142

$301

$467

$91

$558

$137

$695

$102

$797

$32

2005

$932

$176

$361

$549

$98

$647

$145

$793

$106

$898

$33

2006

$1,020

$196

$402

$607

$108

$715

$157

$872

$113

$986

$35

2007

$1,112

$221

$443

$666

$117

$783

$170

$953

$122

$1,075

$37

2008

$1,029

$187

$386

$597

$115

$712

$168

$880

$117

$997

$32

2009

$863

$146

$314

$502

$101

$604

$146

$749

$93

$842

$21

2010

$949

$170

$355

$561

$110

$670

$156

$827

$100

$927

$22

2011

$1,043

$168

$366

$589

$123

$712

$181

$893

$120

$1,012

$30

2012

$1,185

$220

$451

$699

$133

$831

$193

$1,024

$128

$1,152

$33

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Table 5. Adjusted Gross Income Shares, 1980–2012 (percent of total AGI earned by each group)

Year

Total

Top 0.1%

Top 1%

Top 5%

Between 5% & 10%

Top 10%

Between 10% & 25%

Top 25%

Between 25% & 50%

Top 50%

Bottom 50%

1980

100%

8.46%

21.01%

11.12%

32.13%

24.57%

56.70%

25.62%

82.32%

17.68%

1981

100%

8.30%

20.78%

11.20%

31.98%

24.69%

56.67%

25.59%

82.25%

17.75%

1982

100%

8.91%

21.23%

11.03%

32.26%

24.53%

56.79%

25.50%

82.29%

17.71%

1983

100%

9.29%

21.74%

11.04%

32.78%

24.44%

57.22%

25.30%

82.52%

17.48%

1984

100%

9.66%

22.19%

11.06%

33.25%

24.31%

57.56%

25.00%

82.56%

17.44%

1985

100%

10.03%

22.67%

11.10%

33.77%

24.21%

57.97%

24.77%

82.74%

17.26%

1986

100%

11.30%

24.11%

11.02%

35.12%

23.92%

59.04%

24.30%

83.34%

16.66%

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

100%

12.32%

25.67%

11.23%

36.90%

23.85%

60.75%

23.62%

84.37%

15.63%

1988

100%

15.16%

28.51%

10.94%

39.45%

22.99%

62.44%

22.63%

85.07%

14.93%

1989

100%

14.19%

27.84%

11.16%

39.00%

23.28%

62.28%

22.76%

85.04%

14.96%

1990

100%

14.00%

27.62%

11.15%

38.77%

23.36%

62.13%

22.84%

84.97%

15.03%

1991

100%

12.99%

26.83%

11.37%

38.20%

23.65%

61.85%

23.01%

84.87%

15.13%

1992

100%

14.23%

28.01%

11.21%

39.23%

23.25%

62.47%

22.61%

85.08%

14.92%

1993

100%

13.79%

27.76%

11.29%

39.05%

23.40%

62.45%

22.63%

85.08%

14.92%

1994

100%

13.80%

27.85%

11.34%

39.19%

23.45%

62.64%

22.48%

85.11%

14.89%

1995

100%

14.60%

28.81%

11.35%

40.16%

23.21%

63.37%

22.09%

85.46%

14.54%

1996

100%

16.04%

30.36%

11.23%

41.59%

22.73%

64.32%

21.60%

85.92%

14.08%

1997

100%

17.38%

31.79%

11.03%

42.83%

22.22%

65.05%

21.11%

86.16%

13.84%

1998

100%

18.47%

32.85%

10.92%

43.77%

21.87%

65.63%

20.69%

86.33%

13.67%

1999

100%

19.51%

34.04%

10.85%

44.89%

21.57%

66.46%

20.29%

86.75%

13.25%

2000

100%

20.81%

35.30%

10.71%

46.01%

21.15%

67.15%

19.86%

87.01%

12.99%

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

100%

8.05%

17.41%

31.61%

10.89%

42.50%

21.80%

64.31%

21.29%

85.60%

14.40%

2002

100%

7.04%

16.05%

30.29%

11.04%

41.33%

22.39%

63.71%

21.79%

85.50%

14.50%

2003

100%

7.56%

16.73%

30.99%

11.03%

42.01%

22.33%

64.34%

21.52%

85.87%

14.13%

2004

100%

9.14%

18.99%

33.31%

10.77%

44.07%

21.60%

65.68%

20.83%

86.51%

13.49%

2005

100%

10.64%

21.19%

35.61%

10.56%

46.17%

20.90%

67.07%

19.99%

87.06%

12.94%

2006

100%

11.23%

22.10%

36.62%

10.56%

47.17%

20.73%

67.91%

19.68%

87.58%

12.42%

2007

100%

11.95%

22.86%

37.39%

10.49%

47.88%

20.53%

68.41%

19.40%

87.81%

12.19%

2008

100%

10.06%

20.19%

34.95%

11.03%

45.98%

21.71%

67.69%

20.39%

88.08%

11.92%

2009

100%

7.94%

17.21%

32.18%

11.59%

43.77%

22.96%

66.74%

21.38%

88.12%

11.88%

2010

100%

9.24%

18.87%

33.78%

11.38%

45.17%

22.38%

67.55%

20.71%

88.26%

11.74%

2011

100%

8.86%

18.70%

33.89%

11.50%

45.39%

22.43%

67.82%

20.63%

88.45%

11.55%

2012

100%

11.25%

21.86%

36.84%

11.03%

47.87%

21.39%

69.25%

19.64%

88.90%

11.10%

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Table 6. Total Income Tax Shares, 1980–2012 (percent of federal income tax paid by each group)

Year

Total

Top 0.1%

Top 1%

Top 5%

Between 5% & 10%

Top 10%

Between 10% & 25%

Top 25%

Between 25% & 50%

Top 50%

Bottom 50%

1980

100%

19.05%

36.84%

12.44%

49.28%

23.74%

73.02%

19.93%

92.95%

7.05%

1981

100%

17.58%

35.06%

12.90%

47.96%

24.33%

72.29%

20.26%

92.55%

7.45%

1982

100%

19.03%

36.13%

12.45%

48.59%

23.91%

72.50%

20.15%

92.65%

7.35%

1983

100%

20.32%

37.26%

12.44%

49.71%

23.39%

73.10%

19.73%

92.83%

7.17%

1984

100%

21.12%

37.98%

12.58%

50.56%

22.92%

73.49%

19.16%

92.65%

7.35%

1985

100%

21.81%

38.78%

12.67%

51.46%

22.60%

74.06%

18.77%

92.83%

7.17%

1986

100%

25.75%

42.57%

12.12%

54.69%

21.33%

76.02%

17.52%

93.54%

6.46%

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

100%

24.81%

43.26%

12.35%

55.61%

21.31%

76.92%

17.02%

93.93%

6.07%

1988

100%

27.58%

45.62%

11.66%

57.28%

20.57%

77.84%

16.44%

94.28%

5.72%

1989

100%

25.24%

43.94%

11.85%

55.78%

21.44%

77.22%

16.94%

94.17%

5.83%

1990

100%

25.13%

43.64%

11.73%

55.36%

21.66%

77.02%

17.16%

94.19%

5.81%

1991

100%

24.82%

43.38%

12.45%

55.82%

21.46%

77.29%

17.23%

94.52%

5.48%

1992

100%

27.54%

45.88%

12.12%

58.01%

20.47%

78.48%

16.46%

94.94%

5.06%

1993

100%

29.01%

47.36%

11.88%

59.24%

20.03%

79.27%

15.92%

95.19%

4.81%

1994

100%

28.86%

47.52%

11.93%

59.45%

20.10%

79.55%

15.68%

95.23%

4.77%

1995

100%

30.26%

48.91%

11.84%

60.75%

19.62%

80.36%

15.03%

95.39%

4.61%

1996

100%

32.31%

50.97%

11.54%

62.51%

18.80%

81.32%

14.36%

95.68%

4.32%

1997

100%

33.17%

51.87%

11.33%

63.20%

18.47%

81.67%

14.05%

95.72%

4.28%

1998

100%

34.75%

53.84%

11.20%

65.04%

17.65%

82.69%

13.10%

95.79%

4.21%

1999

100%

36.18%

55.45%

11.00%

66.45%

17.09%

83.54%

12.46%

96.00%

4.00%

2000

100%

37.42%

56.47%

10.86%

67.33%

16.68%

84.01%

12.08%

96.09%

3.91%

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

100%

15.68%

33.22%

52.24%

11.44%

63.68%

17.88%

81.56%

13.54%

95.10%

4.90%

2002

100%

15.09%

33.09%

52.86%

11.77%

64.63%

18.04%

82.67%

13.12%

95.79%

4.21%

2003

100%

15.37%

33.69%

53.54%

11.35%

64.89%

17.87%

82.76%

13.17%

95.93%

4.07%

2004

100%

17.12%

36.28%

56.35%

10.96%

67.30%

16.52%

83.82%

12.31%

96.13%

3.87%

2005

100%

18.91%

38.78%

58.93%

10.52%

69.46%

15.61%

85.07%

11.35%

96.41%

3.59%

2006

100%

19.24%

39.36%

59.49%

10.59%

70.08%

15.41%

85.49%

11.10%

96.59%

3.41%

2007

100%

19.84%

39.81%

59.90%

10.51%

70.41%

15.30%

85.71%

10.93%

96.64%

3.36%

2008

100%

18.20%

37.51%

58.06%

11.14%

69.20%

16.37%

85.57%

11.33%

96.90%

3.10%

2009

100%

16.91%

36.34%

58.17%

11.72%

69.89%

16.85%

86.74%

10.80%

97.54%

2.46%

2010

100%

17.88%

37.38%

59.07%

11.55%

70.62%

16.49%

87.11%

10.53%

97.64%

2.36%

2011

100%

16.14%

35.06%

56.49%

11.77%

68.26%

17.36%

85.62%

11.50%

97.11%

2.89%

2012

100%

18.60%

38.09%

58.95%

11.22%

70.17%

16.25%

86.42%

10.80%

97.22%

2.78%

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Table 7. Dollar Cut-Off, 1980–2012 (minimum AGI for tax return to fall into various percentiles; thresholds not adjusted for inflation)

Year

Top 0.1%

Top 1%

Top 5%

Top 10%

Top 25%

Top 50%

1980

$80,580

$43,792

$35,070

$23,606

$12,936

1981

$85,428

$47,845

$38,283

$25,655

$14,000

1982

$89,388

$49,284

$39,676

$27,027

$14,539

1983

$93,512

$51,553

$41,222

$27,827

$15,044

1984

$100,889

$55,423

$43,956

$29,360

$15,998

1985

$108,134

$58,883

$46,322

$30,928

$16,688

1986

$118,818

$62,377

$48,656

$32,242

$17,302

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

$139,289

$68,414

$52,921

$33,983

$17,768

1988

$157,136

$72,735

$55,437

$35,398

$18,367

1989

$163,869

$76,933

$58,263

$36,839

$18,993

1990

$167,421

$79,064

$60,287

$38,080

$19,767

1991

$170,139

$81,720

$61,944

$38,929

$20,097

1992

$181,904

$85,103

$64,457

$40,378

$20,803

1993

$185,715

$87,386

$66,077

$41,210

$21,179

1994

$195,726

$91,226

$68,753

$42,742

$21,802

1995

$209,406

$96,221

$72,094

$44,207

$22,344

1996

$227,546

$101,141

$74,986

$45,757

$23,174

1997

$250,736

$108,048

$79,212

$48,173

$24,393

1998

$269,496

$114,729

$83,220

$50,607

$25,491

1999

$293,415

$120,846

$87,682

$52,965

$26,415

2000

$313,469

$128,336

$92,144

$55,225

$27,682

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

$1,393,718

$306,635

$132,082

$96,151

$59,026

$31,418

2002

$1,245,352

$296,194

$130,750

$95,699

$59,066

$31,299

2003

$1,317,088

$305,939

$133,741

$97,470

$59,896

$31,447

2004

$1,617,918

$339,993

$140,758

$101,838

$62,794

$32,622

2005

$1,938,175

$379,261

$149,216

$106,864

$64,821

$33,484

2006

$2,124,625

$402,603

$157,390

$112,016

$67,291

$34,417

2007

$2,251,017

$426,439

$164,883

$116,396

$69,559

$35,541

2008

$1,867,652

$392,513

$163,512

$116,813

$69,813

$35,340

2009

$1,469,393

$351,968

$157,342

$114,181

$68,216

$34,156

2010

$1,634,386

$369,691

$161,579

$116,623

$69,126

$34,338

2011

$1,717,675

$388,905

$167,728

$120,136

$70,492

$34,823

2012

$2,161,175

$434,682

$175,817

$125,195

$73,354

$36,055

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

Table 8. Average Tax Rate, 1980–2012 (percent of AGI paid in income taxes)

Year

Total

Top 0.1%

Top 1%

Top 5%

Between 5% & 10%

Top 10%

Between 10% & 25%

Top 25%

Between 25% & 50%

Top 50%

Bottom 50%

1980

15.31%

34.47%

26.85%

17.13%

23.49%

14.80%

19.72%

11.91%

17.29%

6.10%

1981

15.76%

33.37%

26.59%

18.16%

23.64%

15.53%

20.11%

12.48%

17.73%

6.62%

1982

14.72%

31.43%

25.05%

16.61%

22.17%

14.35%

18.79%

11.63%

16.57%

6.10%

1983

13.79%

30.18%

23.64%

15.54%

20.91%

13.20%

17.62%

10.76%

15.52%

5.66%

1984

13.68%

29.92%

23.42%

15.57%

20.81%

12.90%

17.47%

10.48%

15.35%

5.77%

1985

13.73%

29.86%

23.50%

15.69%

20.93%

12.83%

17.55%

10.41%

15.41%

5.70%

1986

14.54%

33.13%

25.68%

15.99%

22.64%

12.97%

18.72%

10.48%

16.32%

5.63%

Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the definition of AGI, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

1987

13.12%

26.41%

22.10%

14.43%

19.77%

11.71%

16.61%

9.45%

14.60%

5.09%

1988

13.21%

24.04%

21.14%

14.07%

19.18%

11.82%

16.47%

9.60%

14.64%

5.06%

1989

13.12%

23.34%

20.71%

13.93%

18.77%

12.08%

16.27%

9.77%

14.53%

5.11%

1990

12.95%

23.25%

20.46%

13.63%

18.50%

12.01%

16.06%

9.73%

14.36%

5.01%

1991

12.75%

24.37%

20.62%

13.96%

18.63%

11.57%

15.93%

9.55%

14.20%

4.62%

1992

12.94%

25.05%

21.19%

13.99%

19.13%

11.39%

16.25%

9.42%

14.44%

4.39%

1993

13.32%

28.01%

22.71%

14.01%

20.20%

11.40%

16.90%

9.37%

14.90%

4.29%

1994

13.50%

28.23%

23.04%

14.20%

20.48%

11.57%

17.15%

9.42%

15.11%

4.32%

1995

13.86%

28.73%

23.53%

14.46%

20.97%

11.71%

17.58%

9.43%

15.47%

4.39%

1996

14.34%

28.87%

24.07%

14.74%

21.55%

11.86%

18.12%

9.53%

15.96%

4.40%

1997

14.48%

27.64%

23.62%

14.87%

21.36%

12.04%

18.18%

9.63%

16.09%

4.48%

1998

14.42%

27.12%

23.63%

14.79%

21.42%

11.63%

18.16%

9.12%

16.00%

4.44%

1999

14.85%

27.53%

24.18%

15.06%

21.98%

11.76%

18.66%

9.12%

16.43%

4.48%

2000

15.26%

27.45%

24.42%

15.48%

22.34%

12.04%

19.09%

9.28%

16.86%

4.60%

IRS changed methodology, so data above and below this line not strictly comparable

2001

14.47%

28.17%

27.60%

23.91%

15.20%

21.68%

11.87%

18.35%

9.20%

16.08%

4.92%

2002

13.28%

28.48%

27.37%

23.17%

14.15%

20.76%

10.70%

17.23%

8.00%

14.87%

3.86%

2003

12.11%

24.60%

24.38%

20.92%

12.46%

18.70%

9.69%

15.57%

7.41%

13.53%

3.49%

2004

12.31%

23.06%

23.52%

20.83%

12.53%

18.80%

9.41%

15.71%

7.27%

13.68%

3.53%

2005

12.65%

22.48%

23.15%

20.93%

12.61%

19.03%

9.45%

16.04%

7.18%

14.01%

3.51%

2006

12.80%

21.94%

22.80%

20.80%

12.84%

19.02%

9.52%

16.12%

7.22%

14.12%

3.51%

2007

12.90%

21.42%

22.46%

20.66%

12.92%

18.96%

9.61%

16.16%

7.27%

14.19%

3.56%

2008

12.54%

22.67%

23.29%

20.83%

12.66%

18.87%

9.45%

15.85%

6.97%

13.79%

3.26%

2009

11.39%

24.28%

24.05%

20.59%

11.53%

18.19%

8.36%

14.81%

5.76%

12.61%

2.35%

2010

11.81%

22.84%

23.39%

20.64%

11.98%

18.46%

8.70%

15.22%

6.01%

13.06%

2.37%

2011

12.54%

22.82%

23.50%

20.89%

12.83%

18.85%

9.70%

15.82%

6.98%

13.76%

3.13%

2012

13.11%

21.67%

22.83%

20.97%

13.33%

19.21%

9.96%

16.35%

7.21%

14.33%

3.28%

Source: Internal Revenue Service.

(1) For data prior to 2001, all tax returns that have a positive AGI are included, even those that do not have a positive income tax liability. For data from 2001 forward, returns with negative AGI are also included, but dependent returns are excluded.

(2) Income tax after credits (the tax measure above) does not account for the refundable portion of EITC. If it were included (as is often the case with other organizations), the tax share of the top income groups would be higher. The refundable portion is legally classified as a spending program by the Office of Management and Budget and therefore is not included by the IRS in these figures.

(3) The only tax analyzed here is the federal individual income tax, which is responsible for about 25 percent of the nation's taxes paid (at all levels of government). Federal income taxes are much more progressive than payroll taxes, which are responsible for about 20 percent of all taxes paid (at all levels of government), and are more progressive than most state and local taxes (depending upon the economic assumption made about property taxes and corporate income taxes).

(4) AGI is a fairly narrow income concept and does not include income items like government transfers (except for the portion of Social Security benefits that is taxed), the value of employer-provided health insurance, underreported or unreported income (most notably that of sole proprietors), income derived from municipal bond interest, net imputed rental income, worker's compensation benefits, and others.

(5) Tax return is the unit of analysis, which is broader than households, especially for those at the bottom end, many of which are dependent returns (prior to 2001). Some dependent returns are included in the figures here prior to 2001, and under other units of analysis (like the Treasury Department's Family Economic Unit) would likely be paired with their parents' returns.

(6) These figures represent the legal incidence of the income tax, although most distributional tables (such as those from CBO, Tax Policy Center, Citizens for Tax Justice, the Treasury Department, and JCT) assume that the entire economic incidence of personal income taxes falls on the income earner.

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